Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Farmers Automobile offers significantly cheaper rates than State Farm
• Farmers Automobile tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• State Farm offers more discounts than Farmers Automobile Insurance Association

Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Farmers Automobile or State Farm as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Farmers Automobile is about $35 per month more affordable than State Farm.

However, that doesn't mean Farmers Automobile will necessarily be cheaper than State Farm for every driver. Insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Farmers Automobile or State Farm is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

Farmers Automobile or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Farmers Automobile and State Farm only compete against each other in three states, with State Farm offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where State Farm rates are over 30% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Farmers Automobile.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $80 less a month by choosing Farmers Automobile over State Farm.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices lower significantly once you turn 25. State Farm offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Farmers Automobile still has the lowest rates at $103 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you can find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Farmers Automobile and State Farm? Farmers Automobile gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 15% cheaper than the national average for State Farm.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance rates than single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers Automobile is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $39 per month more affordable than State Farm, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Farmers Automobile is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $30 a month.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see premiums about 1% per month higher with Farmers Automobile, and around 7% more with State Farm.

Looking at overall affordability, Farmers Automobile comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $41 a month and women save about $30 with Farmers Automobile compared to the average State Farm policyholder.

Farmers Automobile or State Farm: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farmers Automobile usually offers less expensive rates of $75 compared to State Farm's $99. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers Automobile again has the edge, with policies around $45 per month cheaper than State Farm, on average.

Is Farmers Automobile or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Farmers Automobile or State Farm more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Farmers Automobile policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $22 a month if they get a ticket, while State Farm normally raises prices about $21 per month, on average.

That being said, Farmers Automobile tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are $47 and $46 cheaper, respectively, compared to State Farm.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Farmers Automobile drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by over 25%, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see around a 20% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Farmers Automobile end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $117 compared to State Farm's $163.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, Farmers Automobile increases average prices by over $90 a month -- that's over a 50% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Farmers Automobile and State Farm Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Farmers Automobile or State Farm Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

Farmers Automobile tends to be the cheaper option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Farmers Automobile average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in just under $40 less expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than $30 less with Farmers Automobile over State Farm.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Farmers Automobile boasts the lowest average prices in rural and suburban areas, while State Farm wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $84 per month with Farmers Automobile and $127 with State Farm. People in suburban areas pay around $92 with Farmers Automobile compared to State Farm's $161 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm's average premiums are about $185 per month compared to Farmers Automobile's $192.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Farmers Automobile and State Farm so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

State Farm knocks Farmers Automobile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 12 more discounts than Farmers Automobile.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but State Farm also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Farmers Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Farmers Automobile has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, EFT discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Farmers Automobile or State Farm Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right one for you and your specific needs?

Farmers Automobile might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• Your credit score is high.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

State Farm might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined is only available in.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Farmers Automobile and State Farm and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Farmers Automobile and State Farm. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Farmers Automobile vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Farmers Automobile or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Farmers Automobile is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $123 a month compared to $158 for State Farm. However, Farmers Automobile won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Farmers Automobile or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Farmers Automobile and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors like your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Farmers Automobile and State Farm use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Farmers Automobile or State Farm is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Farmers Automobile or State Farm at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.